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Archive for August, 2012

The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on August 23, 2012, the next steps to promote the use of electronic health records and expand health information exchange. According to Kathleen Sebelius, the change will lead to enhanced patient care via the elimination of duplicate screening and tests, as well as the reduction of medical errors.

Under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, physicians, health care professionals and hospitals can qualify for Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments when they adopt and meaningfully use certified electronic health record (EHR) technology.

More than 120,000 eligible health care professionals and more than 3,300 hospitals have qualified to participate in the program and receive an incentive payment since it began in January 2011. That exceeds the goal set earlier this year of 100,000.

That includes more than half of all eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals and one out of every five eligible health care professionals. The program is divided into three stages:

Stage 1 sets the basic functionalities electronic health records must include such as capturing data electronically and providing patients with electronic copies of health information.

Stage 2 (which will begin as early as 2014) increases health information exchange between providers and promotes patient engagement by giving patients secure online access to their health information.

Make clear that stage two of the program will begin as early as 2014. No providers will be required to follow the Stage 2 requirements outlined today before 2014.

Outline the certification criteria for the certification of EHR technology, so eligible professionals and hospitals may be assured that the systems they use will work, help them meaningfully use health information technology, and qualify for incentive payments.

Modify the certification program to cut red tape and make the certification process more efficient.

Allow current “2011 Edition Certified EHR Technology” to be used until 2014.

The CMS final rule also provides a flexible reporting period for 2014 to give providers sufficient time to adopt or upgrade to the latest EHR technology certified for 2014.